John Belt was born in 1645 at lower Norfolk, Virginia. His parents were Humphrey Belt (1625-1663) and Anne Graggen Belt (1620-1690). Humphrey's place of birth was Yorkshire, England, and Anna was born in lower Norfolk, VA.

John married Elizabeth Tydings (1656-1737) in 1679 at Anne Arundel County, MD. Elizabeth was the daughter of Richard Tydings (1638-1686) and Charity Sparrow Tydings (1640-1687).

Name: John Belt

Spouse: Elizabeth Tydings

Parents: Humphrey Belt, Anne

Birth Place: Lower Norfolk, VA

Birth Date: 1645

Marriage Place: Anne Arundel County, MD

Marriage Date: 1679

Death Place: Anne Arundel County, MD

Death Date: 17 Nov 1698

Source Citation

Birth year: 1645; Birth city: Lower Norfolk; Birth state: VA

Source Information

Edmund West, comp.. Family Data Collection - Individual Records [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2000.

On 29 Apr 1685 Thomas Lightfoot deeded to John Belt a tract of 300 acres in Baltimore County Maryland called "Belt's Posterity" (Liber R M No HS folio 123).The land was subsequently willed by John to his sons Joseph and Benjamin. The will, dated 13 May 1697, was proved 1698 (Annapolis Liber 6 folio 175).

The register of All Hallows Parish, Anne Arundel County, Maryland records that children of John: Elizabeth, Charity, Sarah and Jeremy were baptised 14 Dec 1703. The same register records the marriage 25 Jul 1701 of Mr John Lamb, merchant, and Elizabeth Belt, widow of John Belt, "Late of this Parish deceased"

THE FOLLOWING IS AN EXACT COPY OF A PORTION OF A FAMILY HISTORY REPORT PREPARED IN 1949 BY HARRY W NEWMAN ON ONE BELT FAMILY LINE.

Much will duplicate above material but is worthy of full copy as Mr Newman was the eminent family historian of the time! (Copy contributed by Mrs Beverly Watts of Willows, CA.)

"JOHN BELT (Son of HUMPHREY BELT) born Norfolk Co. VA. about 1645; died (testate) Anne Arundel Co. Md., 1698; married ELIZABETH dau. of RICHARD TYDINGS, of Anne Arundel Co. (As the widow Belt, she became the wife of John Lamb, a merchant of Annapolis.) Their children were -

1. John, m. Lucy Lawrence.

2. JOSEPH, more later.

3. Benjamin, m. Elizabeth Middleton.

4. Elizabeth, m.Nicholas Watkins.

5. Charity, m. James Mullikin.

6. Sarah, m. Thomas Harwood.

7. Jeremiah (posthumous) m. Mary Wight.

"JOHN BELT, son and heir of HUMPHREY BELT and his wife, was born in Lower Norfolk County, Virginia, and was brought to the Province of Maryland by his father at a date prior to June 30, 1663. He was early engaged as a cooper, but was later styled as a planter."

"On June 14, 1675, JOHN BELT, of Anne Arundel County, Cooper, purchased from Michael Offley 101 acres of land, being a part of a tract of land containing (number is smeared on my copy) acres, known as "Friend's Choice", situated on the ridge of the Patuxent River."

"On April 20, 1679, John Belt at the home of George Yate in Anne Arundel County swore that Richard Mascall at the time of his departure from the Province in the year 1673 was in Possession of 230 acres of land then lying in Baltimore County, but now in Anne Arundel County known by the name of "Mascall's Rest". At this instance, JOHN BELT signed his name. (Ref. 1)."

"On April 29, 1685, JOHN BELT, "Planter", purchased from Thomas Lightfoot and Rebecca his wife, of Baltimore County, 300 acres of land being a portion of two tracts of land called "Exception" at the head of the Gunpowder River which the said Belt had resurveyed into "Belt's Prosperity". (Ref. 2)."

"On February 2, 1687, JOHN BELT was named as one of the overseers of the estate of Richard Tydings of Anne Arundel County, Maryland. At this time Richard Tydings devised to his daughters, Elizabeth and Charity, equally 300 acres of unnamed land in Baltimore County. (Ref.3). It is generally stated that he married Elizabeth, the daughter of Richard Tydings. While no absolute truth has been found so far as this research has been carried out, there are definite circumstantial evidences".

"JOHN BELT died in Anne Arundel County in 1698. His last will and testament, dated May 13, 1697, was proved in Anne Arundel County on November 17, 1698, by John Tydings, Charity Jordan, Ann Smith, Thomas Hodges, Daniel Pierce, Darby Sweaney, and Ann Pierce. (Ref.4)."

"He styled himself JOHN BELT SR and devised his eldest son, JOHN, and his heirs VELMEAD, presumably 200 acres. To his wife, Elizabeth, in lieu of dower rights, he devised the dwelling-plantation and 100 acres of land during life .To his second son JOSEPH, and his heirs he willed the dwelling -plantation at the death of his mother, and a 100 acre portion of "Belt's Prosperity", lying at the head of Gunpowder River. Benjamin, the third son, was devised all the residue of "Belt's Posterity" or 200 acres."

"This compiler (Newman) can only assume that "Belt's Prosperity" and "Belt's Posterity" were the same property. In those days, when many could not read or write, the clerks spelled by ear and names of persons and places were sometimes spelled several different ways in the same document."

"Personalty was bequeathed to his nephew, Thomas Ramsey. To his eldest daughter, Elizabeth, his second daughter, Charity, and his youngest daughter, Sarah, he bequeathed personalty at the age of 16 years or marriage. In the event of death of either daughter, her estate was to pass to her sisters, likewise, in the event of the death of a son, his estate was to pass to the eldest daughter, that is, if the son died under age and without issue".

"He appointed his wife, ELIZABETH BELT, the executrix and willed her the residuary estate".

"The inventory, appraised at 525/17/9 Lbs., including six slaves, was filed in the Prerogative Court of Anne Arundel County on June 4, 1700. The appraisers were Thomas Stockett and Daniel Mariarite (Ref. 5)."

"After the death of her husband and as Elizabeth Lamb she had her four daughters - Charity, Elizabeth, Jemima and Sarah - baptized at the parish church of All Hallows on December 14, 1703. (Ref. 7)".(NOTE: Was Jemima her daughter by husband John Lamb? or nickname for daughter Margery Sprigg?).

"John Lamb died testate in 1715. His last will and testament, dated December 27, 1714, was probated on June 14, 1715, in Anne Arundel County by Elinar Mariate, JOHN BELT, and W. Wooton. (Ref.5). Jeremiah Belt who was born after his father executed his will and whom John Lamb styled his son-in-law was devised 150 acres of "The Widow's Purchase" on the north side of Beaver Dam Branch in the forks of the Patuxent River in Prince George's County".

"ELIZABETH", the widow respectively of JOHN BELT and John Lamb, died testate in Anne Arundel County. Her last will and testament, dated August 1, 1737, was probated on December 14, 1737, by Samuel Smith, George Taylor and Edward Scott. (Ref. 9)."

" She bequeathed 20 shillings each to the following children- John Belt, JOSEPH BELT, Benjamin Belt, Jeremiah Belt, Charity Mullikin, Sarah Harwood and Margaret Watkins. To her son-in-law Nicholas Watkins, she willed 5 Lbs. and certain personalty to her grand daughter Mary Norwood. The residue was bequeathed to her grandson, Nicholas Watkins, but in the event of his death without issue before 21 years of age, then the estate was to pass to her two grand daughters, Elizabeth Watkins and Anne Watkins."

"On February 2, 1687, JOHN BELT was named as one of the overseers of the estate of Richard Tyings of Anne Arundel County, MD. At this time Richard Tydings devised to his daughters, Elizabeth andCharity, equally 300 acres of unnamed land in Baltimore County. It is generally stated that he married Elizabeth, the daughter of Richard Tydings. While no absolute proof has been found so far as this research ha been carried out, there are definite circustantial evidences:.

SOURCES:

1. Archives of Maryland, vol. 51, pages 264-265.

2. Baltimore County Deeds, Hall of Records, Annapolis, MD.

3. Wills, Liber 6, folio 40, Hall of Records, Annapolis, MD.

4. Wills, Liber 6, folio 175, Hall of Records, Annapolis, MD.

5. Inventories and Accounts, Liber 20, folio 162, Hall of Records, Annapolis, MD.

6. Register of All Hallows' Parish, MD Hist. Soc., Baltimore, MD.

7. Ibid.

8. Wills, Liber 14, folio 55, Hall of Records, Annapolis, MD.

9. Wills, Liber 21, folio 815, Hall of Records, Annapolis, MD.

The following is from MARYLAND HERITAGE, A Family History, by Katharine Beall Adams:

"That John and Elizabeth Belt were devout Quakers in the South River community is amply proved by the use of their home for Friends' meetings. It seems likely that his religious belief prevented John Belt from taking active part in the civil or military affairs of the county for there is no record that he held any public office".

FROM MARILYN ROTH: See J. Reaney Kelly's, " QUAKER IN THE FOUNDING OF ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY, published in 1963 page 86, " A religious census was made in 1698 when six Quaker meeting places existed. Weekly and Monthly Meetings were held in the house of John Belt near thePatuxent River, north of present State Route 214 on propey now called VELMEAD".. " That would have been west of Severn Ridge in South River Hundred , per the map of the travels of GEORGE FOX. Since John Belt was a Quaker, at least in his final years ,it would explain why several younger children of John Belt were baptized at All Hallows after their widowed mother remarried at All Hallows".

FROM MARILYN ROTH : Here is proof of the remarriage of John Belts wife, ELIZABETH. See "Anne Arundel County MD Church records, All Hallows Parish, by F. Edward Wright:

""JOHN LAMB, merchant , and Elizabeth Belt , widow of John, m. 25 July 1701. Baptized 14 Dec 1703: MargaretLlamb, daughter of John Lamb and Eizabeth; & Elizabeth, Charity, Sarah, & Jeremy Belt, of John Belt and Elizabeth."

See also the following:

Colonial Families of the United States p.107

ancestors.familysearch.org/en/LZNB-5JP/joseph-belt-1680-1761